SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft, SAP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges partner Edward Reines responded Friday to a losing litigant’s contention that Reines’ friendship with Federal Circuit Judge Randall Rader tainted an appeal before the court.

On behalf of the tech giants, Reines signed briefs Friday calling DataTern’s petition for rehearing “cynical,” and its argument that Rader’s presence compromised the other judges on the panel “without legal and factual support.”